Combination life and swimming belt



March 20, 1945. 5 MAZZA 2,371,769

COMBINATION LIFE AND SWIMMING BELT Filed 001;. 6, 1941 INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 20, 1945 UNITED 2,371,769 COMBINATION LIFEYAND SWIMMING BELT Eric Mazza, New York, N. Y.

Application October 6, 1941, Serial No. 413,851

1 I 4 Claims. (oi. 9- 17) This invention relates to new and useful'improvements in inflatable belts and relates more particularly to a novel combination belt which may be used by persons learning to swim, and

may further be employed as a life-saving belt to be worn on all occasions by persons traveling by water. s

One of the principal objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel inflatable belt which, when deflated, may be worn under'the garments of the user without any discomfort whatsoever, and without any visible evidence of the belt being worn. When so deflated, the belt of the present invention is so shaped as to lie flat against the body just above the waist portion of the user, and may be worn without any discomfort or even any appreciable awareness of the fact that the belt is being worn.

One of the particular improvements in the belt of the present inventionresides in the provision of a tubular portion extending upwardly from the front inflatable section, such tubular extension having a valve structure at its upper end to permit inflation of the belt by the user, such upper end having associated therewith an adjust able ribbon or cord which passes around the neck of the user. Thus, the inflating valve is readily and instantaneously accessible to the user, and when used by a fisherman, a boat enthusiast, a soldier in a landing party, or any other person having association with the water, the belt may be deflated under all normalconditions; In the event of any kind of accident wherein the user is suddenly immersed in the water,he mayquick ly place the valve to his lip and within ajfew seconds inflate the belt suiflciently to keep him afloat.

The belt of the present invention is also par ticularly useful for bathers who maybe accomplished swimmers, but nevertheless desire to take that added precaution, the lack of which has been a responsible for many d-rownings. In this'in'stance,

the strap or ribbon around the neck may be].

lengthened sufficiently to permit the tubular BX}- tension and the valve to be normally covered en:

tirely by the bathing suit, and the casual observer will be entirely unaware of the belt being so worn. In case of a sudden'cramp or an undertow quickly drawing the swimmer ofishore, he will keep calm in the assurance that he may instantly raiseth'e valve to inflating position by drawing the strap upwardly. i 1 Another object of the present invention is the provision of a bathing or life-saving belt having" an improved valve structure. adapted for "manual inflation of the belt which issimple in construc tion, reliable in operation,"and' always ready for use.

Other objects or the invention will beherein rear view of the structure shown in r Fig. 5 is a top plan view of thevalve structure shown in Fig. 4.

Thebelt shown, in the drawing is illustrative of one of the many possible embodiments of the present invention, and it will bequite apparent that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit.

of the invention as defined by the appended claims, J

i This embodiment includes a front section l0 and a rear section II, suchsections being'inflatable and being interconnected by means of an intermediate tubular section [2. Sections IO, M and 12 are desirably formed from two blanks of any suitable flat, flexible material impervious to the flow of air therethrough. These blanks may be formed from sheet rubber or any fabric suitably treated with rubber or other composition material to seal the air within the several sections. It is preferred, however. that the belt be formed from sheet material which is impervious to the passage of air therethroughat all times,

some materials requiring a thorou h wetting before the pores are sufficiently sealedtoretain the air. It is apparent, of course, that material of this latter type can be used for forming the belt of the present invention; particularly where the belt is to be-used for swimming purposes only,

Of the two blanks forming the sections 19, H

and I2, the rear blank 14 is cut to the shape shown by the outer line in Fig. 3. The second blank l5 forming the front portion of the belt is made slightly larger to provide overlapping marginal edges l6 which are cemented or otherwise secured around themarginal edges of blank l4, as shown in Fig. 3. "It will bereadilyapparent that the belt of the present invention maybe formed from a singleblank having a longitudinal fold line and secured along its other edges by any suitable means.

In order to cause the belt to lie flat against the body of the wearer when deflated, the construction illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 is preferable,-

although the invention is by no means limited thereto. A buckle I1 is carried by a short strap this particular type of construction is not themost effective for the present purposes.

Blanks l4 and I5 are provided with upwardly extending portions formed integrally with, or secured to, front section I0, thus forming a substantially flat tubular extension or feed tube 2|, anda valve structure 22 is suitably secured at the upper end of this tubular extension. It lS apparent that any suitable type of valve structure may be employedin connection with the present invention, such as a valve structure wherein the valve member is automatically seated by spring pressure or by pressure of the air within the device. The valve may also constitute a structure wherein the valve member is manually closed. It is preferred, however, to, employ the valve structure illustrated in Fig. 4 which comprises a tubular portion 24 formed with an annular recess 25 at its lower end, such recess receiving the upper end 26 of tubular extension 2| which iscemented thereto. I V

Tubular portion 24 is preferably provided with an integrally formed upper wall 21 having one or more apertures 28 through which the air may .pass' from the users mouth. A substantially cen-' trally disposed aperture 29 -receives a screw 30 provided with a lower headed portion 3] the screw further carrying above wall .27 a nut 32 which maybe spherical or otherwise shaped. The valve member, in this instance, comprises a flat disc 34 of slightly less diameter than the inner diameter of the tubular ortion 24, and when the nut 32 is tightly screwed, as shown at Fig. 4, the valve structure is closed. I

When it is desired toinflate the valve, the nut 32 is loosened, thereby unseating the valve member 34,, after which the tubular portion 24 is placed in the mouth and the belt inflated. During this operation, the head 3! of screw 30. will not permit the valve member to move far from its seat, and the pressure within thebelt will be suflicient to close the valve after each application of air. After the belt has been fully inflated, the nut 32 is again manipulated to positively seal the air within the belt.

An elongated strip 31 ofrubber or other suitable material maybe secured to theexternal periphery of the valve structure in the manner shown in Figs. 1 to 3, such strip having apertures 38 in the end portions thereof which extend lat-.

'era'lly from the valve structure and which receive a cord or strap 39' which passes around the neck of the user, as shown in Fig. 1. This strap may constitute an ordinary fabric ribbon which is tied in a knot or a bow, or it may have a snap fastener or any other means for securing itsends. The strap is preferably of sufficient length, however, to permit thetubular extension 2! andthe valve structure 22 to be entirely enclosed by the suit of the wearer indicated at 40. and 5 the elongated strip 39 is eliminated and a.

In Figs. 4 1

short, vertically disposed strap 42 is cemented or otherwise secured to one side of the valve structure, suchstrap carrying a conventional buckle 43. On the other side of the valve structure a strap 44 is secured, such strap extending around the neck of the wearer, this strap having a plurality of apertures at its opposite end (not shown) for engagement by the buckle. If desired, an annular strip 45 maybe secured around the lower terminals of the several straps. The valve structure maybe either oval-shaped in plan, as shown in Fig. 5, or may be round, or any other shape. In the event that it is oval-shaped, as shown, the valve member is elongated, and in this case it is necessary to prevent rotation of the valve member 34 which is accomplished by forming screw 41 with opposed fiat sides, and shaping the aperture in upper wall 21 similarly.

The number of blanks of the rubberized or other suitable material used in forming the inflatable section is strictly a matter of choice, and if desired each section may be separately formed and then the several sections, including the tubular extension, vulcanized,.cemented, or otherwise secured together. In this way, there is little or no waste material, since theseveral blanks can be conveniently nested.

It will be apparent that the inflatable belt of the present invention will findmany users who have not heretofore taken any precaution against drowning, since it in no way interferes with free movement of the body in any activity in which the wearer may indulge. It is" quickly secured in plate, even without removing ones garments, and may be worn, if desired, while only slightly inflated, as, for example, if one is taking a canoe trip and merely desires sumo-lent protection to stay afloat should the boat capsize. It gives the while inflated, as to remove the usual objectionto devices of this character.

WhatI claim is:

1. Aniinfiatablebelt of the character described formed. from a plurality of blanks of material substantially impervious to air and including interconnected front and rear sections formed so as to lie flat against the waist portion of the wearer when, deflated, means detachably connecting the free ends of the front and rear sections, and a flat tubular portion extending upwardly from the front section ofsufficient length to permit inflation of the belt while in secured posit-ion on the body of the wearer, a. valve structure associated with the upper terminal of said tubular portion, and aflexible member extending around the neck of the wearer for normally supporting said upper terminal in an elevated position ac- I cessible to the mouth of the wearer.

from the front, section of sufficient length tov reach; the wearer's mouth, avalve structure associated with the upper terminal of said extension, and means also associated with said terminal to position; the valve, adjacent to the neck of the wearer, 3. A combination swimming and life-saving belt of the class described comprising an inflat able member formed so as to lie flat against the body of the wearer when deflated, including a front section, a rear section, a tubular section of reduced width connecting said sections, means for detachably securing the free ends of the front and rear sections around the body of the wearer, and means for permitting the wearer to inflate the several interconnected sections while in such position, such means comprising a fiat tubular portion extending upwardly from the front section of sufiicient length to reach the wearer's mouth, a valve structureassociated with the upper terminal of said tubular portion, and including an apertured casing, a valve member provided with a stem passing through said aperture,

tion by the air pressure within the inflatable member, and means for positively securing the valve member in closed. position, and means also associated with said terminal to position the valve adjacent to the neck of the wearer.

the valve member being retained in closed posi- 4 4. An inflatable beltof the character described formed from a'plurality of blanks of material, substantially impervious to air and including interconnected front and rear inflatable sections formed so as to lie flat against the waist portionl of the wearer when deflated, means for detach ably connecting the free ends of, the front and rearfsections, a flat tubular portion extending upwardlyfrom the w front section of sufficient length to permitinflation of the belt while in secured position on the body of the wearer, and a valve structure associated with the upper terminal of saidtubular portion, means for supporting the upper terminal adjacent to the head of the wearer comprising a strap secured on one side thereof, extending around the neck of the wearer, and a cooperating fastening member secured on the other side thereof. I ERIC MAZZA. 

